HARTFORD, Conn. - Locked fire exits, exposure to 8-foot falls, improper storage of compressed gas cylinders and other hazards at the Monro Muffler Brake Inc. store in Glastonbury, Conn., have resulted in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citing the company with $107,000 in proposed fines.

In response to an employee complaint, OSHA cited the Rochester, N.Y.¿based company for alleged repeat and serious violations of safety standards following an inspection of the 3000 Main St. location begun Dec. 11, 2007.

"The sizable proposed fines reflect the recurrence of exit access, fall and compressed gas storage hazards that have been found at other company worksites," said C. William Freeman III, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "Monro Muffler needs to promptly address these vital safety issues in a consistent, effective manner to ensure the safety and health of employees at all its stores."

The Glastonbury inspection identified several conditions that had earlier been cited at Monro Muffler Brake locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. These include locked fire exit doors, no railings or other fall protection for employees working in an elevated muffler storage area, and improper and unsafe storage of compressed gas cylinders.

These latest conditions resulted in the issuance of four repeat citations, carrying $95,000 in proposed fines. OSHA issues repeat citations when an employer previously has been cited for substantially similar hazards and those citations have become final. In this case, OSHA had cited Monro Muffler in December 2005 for similar conditions at its Boston, Mass., and Manchester, N.H., stores.

The company also has been issued six serious citations, with an additional $12,000 in proposed fines, for damaged or missing exit door safety equipment; missing exit signs; wet, moldy and falling ceiling tiles; exposed electrical conductors and excess pressure levels for compressed air hoses used for cleaning. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Hartford Area Office; telephone 860-240-3152.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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